Although baseball has traditionally been known as America's traditional benchmark sport, football has surged to the top of the list in recent years. In a 2006 Harris Interactive poll, for instance, early 30 percent those who follow more than one sport touted football as their No. 1 choice -- more than any other sports. If you're among those who love watching football but have never played, get out there and give it a shot.
Step 1
Find a position. If you're speedy but slight in build, that narrows your focus to a few positions: quarterback, running back, wide receiver and defensive back. If you can throw the ball 35 yards at a standstill, quarterback might be your calling. If you're quick and shifty, try running back or wide receiver. And if you don't have the best hands on the team but have a knack for blanketing opposing would-be pass catchers, you're probably best suited for defensive back. The biggest, strongest players are usually bound for the offensive line, while the sturdy but athletic mid-sized players -- especially ones who don't mind tackling -- often end up at linebacker.
Step 2
Find the right level of competition. If you're just looking to have fun and get some exercise, find a local flag football team or organize a pickup game with friends. If you're a pre-teen or teenager and are serious about the sport, try out for your local youth league or high school team. And while football is traditionally a male oriented sport, there are "powder puff" leagues for females who want to try their wares on the gridiron.
Step 3
Learn the rules. Traditional football games feature 11 players per team on the field at one time. A play starts when the center snaps the ball between his legs to the quarterback, who can then pass to a teammate, hand off to a running back or take off with the ball himself. Defensive players can't rush after the quarterback until the ball is snapped. Defensive players may only tackle players who have the ball in their possession, and offensive players aren't allowed to hold defenders who they're trying to block.
Step 4
Use the fundamentals. If you're on defense, tackle an offensive player by striding into him with your head up and knees bent, and wrap your arms around him as you try to bring him down; tackling with you head down can lead to injury and "spearing" penalty. When catching passes, keep your hands out in front of you rather than letting it hit your chest. Never cross one foot over the other while running. On defense, always stay aware of where the ball is.
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